Let Your Peace Return to You Meaning

In Matthew 10:13, Jesus is sending out his disciples to preach the good news, telling them, "If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn't worthy, let your peace return to you." (Matthew 10:13 WEB)

This entire phrase is an idiom in Hebrew, in which
the meaning of the words is not the same as the literal meaning. Idioms
are culture specific, varying depending on the language and even
location. Any phrase that has an understood meaning that differs from
the literal meaning is an idiom.

Examples of Idioms include:

Let the cat out of the bag. (USA) Meaning: Tell the secret.

Spill the beans. (USA) Meaning: Tell the secret.

Across the pond. (UK) Meaning: The other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

All that, and a bag of chips. (USA) Meaning: Person thinks they are special.

Last Coca-Cola in the desert. (Mexico) Meaning: Person thinks they are special.

Word-for-Word vs Paraphrase Bible Translations

Idioms are
one of the reasons why so many English translations of the Bible exist. A
word-for-word translation can sometimes be confusing, which is why
there are many translations that slightly paraphrase in order to
effectively communicate the meaning.

To someone foreign to any given language, idioms will sound weird or
unfamiliar when they are translated word-for-word. The meaning is lost
in translation because the meaning was derived from a cultural understanding, rather than the literal words.

Likewise, this phrase spoken by Jesus would have been a familiar phrase meaning essentially, "Greet them, and if they are unwelcoming then leave without regret."

And in fact, while Jesus did not say this directly to Paul, he
and Barnabus have a similar response when they experienced hostility in a
city in Acts 13. In response, they left without regret in order to go
to another city that would be more welcoming. "But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium." (Acts 13:51 WEB)

Jesus is essentially telling his disciples to not waste time on
those who are unwelcoming and who are not ready to receive the good
news.

Peace as a Gift

The concept
of letting your peace return to you makes sense if we consider the
example of a physical gift. The Apostles were to give their blessing to
those who received them, and if the host refused the blessing then it
would naturally remain with them, just as if they had tried to give an
item that remained in their hand, having not been taken.

Verse of the Week

"He who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked." (1 John 2:6 WEB)